The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-14
WAR THOUGHT CERTAIN.
Belief that the Great Struggle Will Com
mence About the Middle of April.

London, Paris, Berlin and vienna When say
there seems to be no chance OF escaping war. No
business operations are proceeding anywhere on
a theory that peace will be pregerved through
the spring. No man in official life, in position
to know even the outlines OF the existing situa-
ton, will candidly say he believes that peace
viii be maintained. Indeed the better mans
source of information the more pesslmstlc you
sure to find him. l have had the advantage
of long talk with German general of division,
who came to England on Tuesday to arrange for
his family to move from Prussia here in a month,
and he tells me no German officer doubts the
reality of the intention to have war. In his di-
vision for fortnight back the bugle call has
occurred at 2 o'clock in the morning. Every
thing is in momentary readiness 20 start, either
for parade campaign: Throughout the
whole army the same nervous state of prepara-
tion reigns AT Metz, young friend of his, an
officer of hussars, tells him they are all held in
absolute suspense waiting for the hourly ex-
pected order to move. Theories differ as to the
time when the fight will really come.
"The prevailing notion in German circles is
that it will be about the 18th of April since the
reserves will be out on the I'd, and ten days will
be needed after that to arrange the details
give this merely as an expression Of opinion.
Where everything depends on the swiftness and
secrecy of the blow to be struck, it would, of
course, be folly to predict the time and pretext
for it,
Another thing seems clearer now than fort
night ago. which is that Germany will swoop
down on France through Belgium. / have as
surances from quarter which l am bound to
respect that there is perfect treaty understand
ing to this point between Berlin and Brussels.
and England's consent to the thing l foreshad
owed a week ago. The Beleians are working
now in truly phenomenal manner at fortiica-
tions and arrnaments, but it is significant that
these are directed more for protection against
the French fleet than the German host In
fact, the whole tone of Belgian talk and thought
is in favor of Germany; besides which, Leopold
is grandson of Louis Philippe and the most
enthusiastic Orleanist in Europe Any study
of the situation leaving out of view this dynastic
movement would be false and misleading.
"Of course, they are thinking in Brussels,
Berlin, Vienna and Rome primarily of number
one but they all unite secondly in thinking of
the Comte de Paris Such few Belgian signs of
activity as are discernible on the German front
ier believed to be in the nature of blind to
deceive the French, just the German and
Belgian papers lay great stress on the fact that
Germany has no trunk lines running to the Bel
gian border, when the fact is troops could be
showed through via Verviers more easily than
they were the last time via tho valley of the
Moselie and the Vosges, and once Belgium was
entered it would offer perfect network of rail
| ways, opening Lille, Calais, Amiens, Rheims,
and even Paris itself to the conqueror, and
all more simple than the former Alsace route.
| To go moment further with Germany. it seems
| pretty plain that Bismarck has abandoned. or at
| least nightly distrusts, the view that he has
squared the Gar. When the Reichstag speeches
were made he and the Kaiser believed this had
| been done, and. no doubt it was at the time
moro or less true; but tine Gar is tricky per-
Son to deal with, because absolutism is in itself
| equivalent to vacillation. The Car undoubted-
ly made promises to Berlin. but then he was
confronted by vigorous protest from all the
Panslavists, with Katkoff at their head So far
as the Winter Palace is concerned. these aristo-
| Gratis represent all Russia. They speak and
sing in French and think in French; they call
themselves Panslavists as the best obtainable
| polite label but truer one would be anti Ger-
mans.
"This class, which leads the army, domin ates
! the bureaucracy, handles the finances, and
| colors every channel through which ideas filter
to the Gar has for its chief abiding principle
hatred of the German and for its main ambi-
| ton the spectacle of Cossacks and Turcos frater-
| n!zing in the Inter den Linden. Against the
| terrific agitation which this class started the
moment hints of Russo German entente began
| to spread, the Czar has been unable to stand.
| The consequences are that he has yielded to
Katkof. 1t is perfectly well understood in
! Berlin and Vienna that he has consented to an
| attack on Austria at the earliest moment posi-
ble Then it will be for Germany publicly to
announce that she has no intention OF helping
Austria Otherwise Russia and France would
hurl their hosts upon her simultaneously leav-
| ing the Balkan hostities to take care of them
| selves for six or eight weeks, or till Germany
| is dismembered and PROSTATE. 1t is knowledge
| of this scheme which has decided Bismarck to
strike the first blow himself, overrunninc
Belgium while Italy strikes at Nice. Toulon and
Marseilles, and leaving enough Germans in east
Prussia, Posen and Silesia to withstand Rus
sian attack. Here you have skeleton state
ment of the universal expectations of war
| which otherwise must be well nigh incompreheu.
siblen
The Timess Paris correspondent cables as fol
lows
"A little episode behind the scenes is reported
to me- which believe has not been printed and
Is not even known outside a limited circle here.